Death March to the Parallel World Rhapsody
Death March to the Parallel World Rhapsody is a Japanese light novel series written by Hiro Ainana. It began serialization online in 2013 on the user-generated novel publishing website Shōsetsuka ni Narō until it was acquired by Fujimi Shobo. The first volume of the Light Novel was published in March 2014. A manga adaptation by Ayamegumu ran in Age Premium until the magazine ceased publication, and was then transferred to Monthly Dragon Age. Both the light novels and the manga adaptation have been licensed for publication in North America by Yen Press. An anime television series adaptation by Silver Link and Connect aired from January 11 to March 29, 2018. A sequel has been announced.
Plot
Ichiro Suzuki is a 29-year old game programmer who was tasked with fixing several bugs in two MMORPGs his company is preparing for publication. However, he becomes extremely worn out as he is working during the weekend. After taking a nap, he mysteriously wakes up in a parallel world that resembles some of the fantasy RPG worlds he had worked on, as a 15-year old named Satou, later Satou Pendragon, a nickname he uses while running beta tests, and with what looks like the menu screen of the game he was working on appearing before his inner eye.However, before he can grasp his current situation, an army of lizardmen ambushes him and launches an all-out attack on him. In desperation, he uses all three of his special 'Meteor Rain' attack options at once and wipes them all out - accidentally killing a god as well. As a result, his level jumps from 1 to 310, maximizing his stats immensely and making him one of the most powerful people in the world. With no way to return to his world, and as a high-leveled adventurer armed with a myriad of different physical, cognitive and magical abilities and weapons, he sets out to uncover the secrets of this new world, earning the trust and affection of many people in the process while keeping his overpowered stats concealed.
Characters
;Ichirou Suzuki / Satou Pendragon;Zena Marienteil
;Pochi
;Tama
;Liza
;Arisa
;Lulu
;Misanaria Bolenan
;Nana
;Iona
;Lilio
;Ruu
;Martha
;Mosa
;Yuni
;Ohna
;Boido
;Nidoren
;Nadi
;Yusaratoya Bolenan
;Mize
;Dryad
;Zen
Media
Light novel
Hiro Ainana first published Death March to the Parallel World Rhapsody as a web novel on the user-generated content site Shōsetsuka ni Narō in 2013, before republishing it as a light novel with illustrations by shri. The first volume was released by Fujimi Shobo in March 2014. Thirty-four volumes have been released to date. North American publisher Yen Press announced its license to the novels on May 20, 2016.Manga
Ayamegumu began serializing a manga adaptation in Fujimi Shobo's Age Premium magazine in December 2014. Age Premium ceased publication with its 49th issue on July 9, 2016, and the manga was one of five titles that were transferred to Monthly Dragon Age. The manga has been licensed by Yen Press.Akira Segami launched a prequel manga, titled Death March to the Parallel World Rhapsody Ex: Princess Arisa's Otherworldly Struggle, adapted from the short story by the same name in Death March to the Parallel World Rhapsody: Ex, in Fujimi Shobo's shōnen manga magazine Monthly Dragon Age on February 9, 2018. The manga ended on July 9, 2018.
A gourmet spin-off manga by Tsurumi, titled Death March kara Hajimaru Isekai Kōfukukyoku, was serialized in Monthly Dragon Age from the February 2022 issue released on January 8, 2022, to the March 2023 issue released on February 9, 2023. It centers around the character, Phantom Chef Lulu.
Anime
An anime adaptation was announced via a wraparound band on the fourth volume of the manga on December 10, 2016. The television series is directed by Shin Oonuma at Silver Link and Connect with scripts written by Kento Shimoyama, while Shoko Takimoto designed the characters. MONACA composed the music at DIVE II Entertainment. The series aired from January 11 to March 29, 2018, on AT-X, with further broadcasts on Tokyo MX and BS11. It ran for 12 episodes and covers the first 3 volumes of the light novel. The opening theme is "suraidoraido" by Run Girls, Run! while the ending theme is "Suki no sukiru" by Wake Up, Girls!. Crunchyroll streamed the series, while Funimation streamed an English dub.A sequel to the anime series was announced in November 2024.